Starting a walking program is a personal commitment to fitness. Like many walkers, you may have started out strong and then your walking program disappeared in the hustle and bustle of life. You may be disappointed in yourself. You may play mental games with yourself as well and find all sorts of excuses for not walking: weather, job responsibilities, kids' schedules, and more. How can you get back on the fitness path? Here are 15 practical tips.

1. Put walking on your calendar and think of it as an appointment you must keep.

2. Set a new goal. You may add strength training to your walking program or walk additional steps.

3. Work towards your new goal in increments. If you start to lift weights, for example, lift small ones.

4. Check your walking shoes for wear and replace them, if necessary.

5. Wear socks that wick moisture away from your feet. When your feet are wet walking isn't fun.

6. Get a walking buddy. You may ask one of your best friends to walk with you, or invite a new neighbor to join you on your morning walk.

7. Start a walking group or join one. Companionship can be the difference between walking and not walking.

8. Bring kids and grandkids along. Your fitness model could have a huge impact on a children's lives.

9. Cut yourself some slack. Fitness is a goal that takes time and is worth your time.

10. Always have an alternate plan. If the forecast is rain, call your walking buddy or walking group members and agree to walk at the mall.

11. Walk in place while you are waiting for coffee to brew, on the phone, or watching television. You will be amazed at how many steps you accrue.

12. Make walking an event. You may go on a bird walk, historic walk, or fall walk and look at the changing leaves.

13. Vary your time and route. Variety can add spark to an "ordinary" walk.

14. Participate in a charity walk. Check your local newspaper and the American Heart Association for more information.

15. Reward yourself. You started out on the fitness path and you are still on it!

Copyright 2006 by Harriet Hodgson

Harriet Hodgson

Harriet Hodgson has been a nonfiction writer for 27 years. She is a member of the Association of Healh Care Journalists and the Association for Death Education and Counseling. A prolific writer, she is the author of 25 published books and hundreds of print and electronic articles.

Hodgson has written about parenting, recycling, sexual harassment, aging, Alzheimer's disease, caregiving, communication, nutrition, physical activity, weight management, anticipatory grief, and many other topics.

She started out as a teacher and earned a B.S. with honors from Wheelock College in Boston, MA. She went on to earn an M.A. in Art Education from the University of Minnesota and did additional graduate work. After spending a dozen years in the classroom Hodgson changed careers and turned to writing.

All of her writing comes from life experience. Hodgson has talked about her experienes on some 150 radio talk shows, including CBS Radio, Minnesota Public Radio, WCCO Radio and "Coping With Caregiving," an Internet-only radio program broadcast worldwide. In addition, she has appeared on dozens of television programs/stations including CNN.

Hodgson is a Past President of the Wing of the Aerospace Medical Association. A past president of the Minnesota Medical Association Alliance (MMAA), she represented MMAA members on the Minnesota Medical Association Health Care Reform Task Force. She is an active community volunteer and all of her volunteer efforts focus on health.

Hodgson is cited in "Something About the Author," "Who's Who of American Women," "Who's Who in America," "Who's Who in the World," "The Dictionary of International Biography," and "Contemporary Authors," published by Gale Research.

Hodgson lives in Rochester, Minnesota with her husband, C. John Hodgson. She enjoys learning, travel, antiques, singing, and spending time with her twin grandchildren.